Would love opinions on sync cables for Nikon

LeeHawkins

I have been using Nikon CLS for over a year on my D90s, SB600s, and Gary Fong Lightspheres with success and have now ordered the Apollo Orb kit from Westcott so that I can direct and control my light more than I have with the Lightspheres and therefore work more with lighting in portraits. I'm holding myself to a tight budget until I have some revenue to cover the costs of going wireless with Pocket Wizards (likely a mix of TT5s and Plus IIs, since I have need of TTL for shooting weddings as well).

So...I am thinking that sync cables are the best place to start, since I intend to focus more on indoor portrait work over the winter. What I'd like to do is just pick up some hot shoe connectors and make my own cables, so that I can save a couple bucks making my own cables of whatever length I need. So far, I have been stumped as to where I can find these without salvaging them off of equipment--I'd love to find these "Radio Shack"-style, but so far Google and I haven't found what I'm looking for... I'm really not looking for anything more than sync with this--TTL would be nice just for kicks, but is absolutely expendable in this application...

I am interested in opinions from other DIYers who have had a measure of success with this. I am also interested in any opinions from those of you who have found less expensive (and mostly reliable) wireless solutions than Pocket Wizard that may go for under $100 for both a transmitter and receiver. In looking at B&H's website, it seems the sea of choices is large...and I like to hear fellow Smuggers' ideas on how I should proceed. I could spend the money on Pocket Wizard, but I'd like to earn my way through it first...to use the PWs as motivation to go sell myself some more!

Thanks in advance for your replies :thumb

Lee

GwagDesigns

In answer to your question of cheaper but reliable triggers, and don't mine spending an extra $30 on you $100 budget, CyberSyncs are fantastic. I have been using them for a while now and have yet to have a misfire. Small, range is good, and simple to set up. I've heard plenty of good things about the ebay triggers that people rave about, and they have improved in quality over the years but I only have limited experience with those.

http://www.paulcbuff.com/cybersync.php

Matthew Saville

Honestly, being a wedding and portrait photographer myself:

1.) I HATE cables. If I can do anything to avoid cables, I will. I hate cables almost as much as I hate straps. I guess I don't understand why you're looking for a cable solution, when you plan on going wireless anyways. Why not just buy a set of wireless triggers to begin with? I guess I'm missing the reason behind that...

2.) As a wedding and portrait photographer, I haven't needed TTL yet, at least not wirelessly. You must be rockin' some pretty wild setups to need TTL wirelessly. Personally, especially on a budget, I would just go with a set of cheap Ebay triggers. They work juuuust fine, no cables required unless you want an on-camera flash, and they cost $50-100 for a whole set compared to the $500-$1000 that you could spend on a similar set from PW. Not to mention the savings in being able to use "dumb" flashes instead of high-end TTL flashes.

3.) But, if you decide you do *need* TTL wirelessly, then personally I would go for RadioPoppers. They seem to be much less buggy, although you don't get the extra high-speed sync performance.

kdog

Syl Arenal uses long TTL cables in his flash photography classes, so it's not a totally a dumb idea. For Nikon TTL cables, go here: http://flashzebra.com/ttlcords/index.shtml
For me those are cheap enough not to bother kludging up something myself. YMMV.

For wireless, I use Yongnuo RF602 transmitters and receivers. Amazon carries them now. I notice they also have a newer RF603 model and I'd probably go that way if I were starting today.

time2smile

RF602 way to go....you will need two transmitters if you want lighting and shutter release...

Please note that what i have read the RF603 do NOT work with the SB600....
Not sure but i think you can use one set of RF603 as a shutter release, and a set of RF602 for the speedlight...

kitkos

Strobist has a good how-to article on Building a Pro PC Cord HERE with links to where to buy the part CHEAP.

Matthew Saville

kdog wrote: »

Syl Arenal uses long TTL cables in his flash photography classes, so it's not a totally a dumb idea. For Nikon TTL cables, go here: http://flashzebra.com/ttlcords/index.shtml
For me those are cheap enough not to bother kludging up something myself. YMMV.

For wireless, I use Yongnuo RF602 transmitters and receivers. Amazon carries them now. I notice they also have a newer RF603 model and I'd probably go that way if I were starting today.

Oh I'm not calling cables dumb, I'm just calling MYSELF too dumb to be safe around cables. ;-)